Work Text:
1.
Jungkook, a 2nd-year student who majors in Film and minors in Biology, really doesn't know what he's doing here. It's a Friday night, currently,12 am, a frat party only a couple of blocks down the road where he could be right now. He could be dancing (he means thrusting, really) the night away, running his hands all over exposed skin (he knows he would be doing way more than that) or downing shots with no limit until ass o’clock. He could be having fun and living his life like a normal uni student.
Yes, he could be doing so much but, hold your gasps, ladies and gentlemen, Jeon Jungkook is not. How unfortunate!
Instead, he has his eyes trained on the ink on a textbook, twirling his pen in his hand or balancing his stationery in boredom. He turns his head to look over at his hyung, clicking his ballpoint pen. Next to him is Park Jimin, a 3rd-year student (who should already be in his 4th if it weren't for the fact that he failed last year’s exams). Jimin has a frown on his face and he’s whispering to himself in confusion, undoubtedly struggling to answer question three even though it’s been hours.
Jimin majors in Dance, minors in Biology too, and is two years older than him, yet he takes the same Bio classes as Jungkook. The younger would say he's not sure if it's because the elder is quite dim or if it's because Jungkook himself is brighter than average, but that's a lie. He knows that the reason why they’re classmates is definitely Jimin and his snail brain when it comes to Biology.
He’s heard of Jimin, his name always being said everywhere on campus. Jungkook’s seen him a few times around, always running to the dance studios, even bumped into him once when he was sprinting down the corridors.
Right now, they're both at the desk in Jimin's dorm room, which, he has to admit, is about 10 times better and bigger than his own. Jungkook might be broke, even though he makes sure to save enough to buy himself drinks at the weekends, but Park Jimin surely isn’t.
You see, Jungkook would have most likely (see: 100% probability) rejected the idea of staying with Jimin on a Friday night. However, when Jungkook’s favourite mentor, who decides whether he gets employed at the end of his course, very politely requested him to tutor his son in Biology, he couldn’t refuse.
“Please, Jungkook. From what I’ve heard, you’re at the top of your Biology class! Jiminie is on the opposite end of the spectrum, unfortunately. Would you please help him, just a few sessions a week? I don’t mind paying you!”
When he heard that Jimin was at the opposite end of the spectrum, he didn’t expect it to be true. He just thought his mentor was exaggerating. Oh, boy, was he wrong.
"For God's sake, can you stop clicking your pen?" Jimin huffs, his concentration now broken, and snaps Jungkook from his self-pity party. "I thought your job here is to tutor me, not hinder me from studying!"
"Well, I thought I was supposed to be teaching, but my very dense student to the right of me isn't enabling me to move on to the next topic, so guess what? Hours have passed and we've gone over the time I've agreed to and we're still stuck on the first unit!" Jungkook grits his teeth in an attempt to tone down his anger, but his efforts were futile. Annoyance bleeds into his words with each second, his voice rising into a shout by the end of his rant.
Jungkook closes his eyes to calm down, missing the flash of hurt on Jimin's face. When he opens them, Jimin's looking at him with narrowed eyes and clenched fists on his lap. He doesn’t say anything. He clicks his tongue before turning away from the younger, angrily picking up his pen, if that was even possible.
Jungkook rolls his eyes at him and scoffs loudly, just so he can hear, when he realises how petulant Jimin is acting, ignoring his own childish behaviour. He groans loudly on purpose to annoy the elder even more, but it ends when Jimin steps on his foot. Hard.
"Ow! What the fuck, Jimin?" He screeches, jumping away from his previous position and clutches his throbbing toes.
"What? The great, magnificent, enticing Jeon Jungkook can't handle a little pain?" It's Jimin who rolls his eyes this time. His anger was washed away and replaced by a minuscule smile that's ghosting his lips when Jungkook scowls. "And that's Jimin hyung for you."
After that, Jungkook ends up snoring as he plants his face on the desk. He doesn't question how he got home, although he vaguely remembers being carried into a car half-asleep.
2.
It’s been several weeks after their first session and he still can’t believe he’s missing out on another wild party (and several other hangouts) on another Friday night for Park Jimin.
Jungkook stares blankly at Jimin's face as he holds the elder's essay, coloured in red markings, or more specifically, it was scribbled all over in red crosses and messy handwriting, the frustration of their professor evident.
Jimin clenches his jaw and looks away, his cheeks seemingly flushing with annoyance at the younger's reaction. "No 'well done'?" He asks but in a way smaller voice than what Jungkook is used to, catching him off guard for a second. Of course, it doesn’t take long for him to return back to normal.
"Well done? You expect me to congratulate you on a shitty essay that scored the lowest in the whole fucking class when I've wasted so much time and effort?" Jungkook bursts, extra heat radiating off his skin due to his wrath and dumps the crumpled sheets of paper on the desk.
“It’s only a practice paper...it doesn’t count towards my final grade. And it’s the highest I’ve gotten in Bio, anyway.” The elder mumbles and moves to snatch his paper from Jungkook. The action causes the younger’s eyes to drop to Jimin’s hands gripping on his own as an attempt to rip Jungkook’s hands off his essay. Needless to say, he’s more than a little perplexed at the dull ache in his heart when he notices just how tiny, mini, teeny weeny Jimin’s hands appear on top of his. Babie.
The fuck? Why did I just think that?
He decides to convert his confusion into anger. Because that’s what emotionally constipated people (just Jungkook, really) do.
"For fuck's sake, why can't you just study harder instead of lazing around in your goddamn bed? And then maybe, just maybe, a fucking miracle can happen and you might scrape a pass so your father can leave me the fuck alone with a job that I actually want to have." The second-year student sighs, exasperated, and runs his hand through his hair, fully aware that he might have crossed the line.
Jimin grits his teeth. "You're getting paid to tutor me, dickhead, and you don’t teach me shit! All you’ve been doing is doodling hairy dicks in my notebook or snoring on my desk! And contrary to your beliefs, I don’t laze around, thank you very much.” There’s so much venom in his voice as he speaks that Jungkook has the conscience to feel slightly guilty and he wonders if he had hurt him with his words.
Jungkook could apologise, that’s always an option, but his pride stands in the way as always and he averts his eyes from the other boy.
It turns out he didn’t have to agonise over whether he should apologise when Jimin opens his apartment door for him at their next study session with a polite smile on his face, cheeks glowing pink with heat.
“You can go to my room first, I just finished a dance lesson so I’ll freshen up before I join you.” He moves aside so Jungkook can step into his apartment. “Oh, I mean-” Jimin clears his face of any emotion and puts on a frown, although there’s still a visible hint of a smile.
“Uh, what was that?” The younger asks, confused by his sudden change in demeanour.
“I’m meant to be mad at you because of last time, silly.” He crosses his arms after he closed the door, the growing cheeky smile on his face contrasting his words, but they had no trace of menace anyway. “Nevermind, I can’t stay angry for long. Want a drink?”
Jungkook doesn’t know why but his heart temporarily stopped working at Jimin’s cute behaviour. He doesn’t dwell on it much, brushing it off and trying to convince himself it’s probably just exhaustion and sleep deprivation clouding his mind.
When they get to studying later and his frustration overtakes him, Jimin’s room is once again filled with aggressive sighs and shouts, and needless to say, Jungkook felt a bit of comfort in their antics. It was how he usually felt around Jimin, unlike the weird skip in his heart earlier.
Everything was fine.
3.
As Jungkook spends more time with the elder, he came to realise that he never sees Jimin in his Bio classes or lectures. He finds himself searching for him, because of out of the whole class full of upperclassmen, he can quite easily say he hates Jimin the least, even if he doesn’t act like it in front of him.
“Hey, do you know where Jimin is?” He reluctantly approaches one of his seniors, hesitating for a moment, voice timid and polite, nothing like how he talks to Jimin.
“You mean Park Jimin?” The guy questions. Jungkook nods. “Not sure about that, sorry. I’ve only seen him once at the beginning of the year around here.”
“Dude, he never has time to go to his Bio lessons with his intense dance teacher! My pal’s in his dance class and he says their teacher goes crazy over Jimin’s practices.” Another one of his seniors stops to say after overhearing their conversation on his way out.
Jungkook nods and sends a polite smile that doesn't reach his eyes before dismissing himself, a frown on his face at the newly learned information when he turns away.
4.
The first time Jungkook sees Jimin out of their tuition sessions is when he walks past the dance studios on his way to the library. He ignores that fact that the library is nowhere near the studios and he definitely didn't take the long way round just so he could catch a glimpse of Jimin in his element. He tells himself it's because he likes the song being blasted inside the studios.
He's mesmerised by the way he glides across the floor, the way he pours his entire being into the moves, the way pure joy is shining in his eyes. He's stunned, stuck at the same spot, just admiring the dancer until he realises Jimin's caught him, making eye contact now. He's got a frown on his face, and it would be a lie if Jungkook said it didn't hurt, because he looks like he doesn't want him to be there. He knew he wasn't someone the elder particularly liked to be around, but he didn't want to know that Jimin would be so disgusted with his presence.
Jimin side glances his teacher, who has pursed lips and a sneer on his face. He looks back at Jungkook to see he's already gone and a sigh of relief leaves him.
Jimin missed the hurt on Jungkook's face but Jungkook missed the fear when the dancer looked at his teacher.
5.
He can’t help but feel as if something’s a bit off today. It’s oddly silent and not filled with their angry shouting.
Jungkook keeps trying to annoy the elder. He shifts in his seat, clicks his pen, taps his nails on the desk, sighs and clears his throat numerous times. None of it works like it normally does.
He stops trying when he notices just how exhausted the dancer looks with dark circles and heavy eye bags, the usual shimmer in his eyes missing and his shoulders slumped. He also seems to be blinking abnormally slowly and now that Jungkook is looking closely at him, he seems to be losing energy with every passing sec-
Jungkook catches Jimin in his arms, cradling his head to his chest instinctively, just as the elder loses consciousness. He doesn't know what to do. He's panicking. He's frantically looking around for a phone. He needs to check his breathing. Wait, he needs to call for an ambulance. Is he bleeding?! What if he's dying?!
His panic is cut short when he hears a soft snore from the boy in his arms, who whines when Jungkook accidentally jostles him. Jimin is asleep. It clicks immediately in Jungkook's mind that no, he's not dying and no, he's not dead, he's just dead tired.
Jungkook frowns at that. How tired must he have been to pass out on him like that? On someone he doesn't trust? He makes a mental note to interrogate him or at least ask him about it later, but for now, he should probably put him in a more comfortable position to sleep in.
He eyes the bed next to the desk, then the sleeping beauty in his arms. He lets out a small groan as he picks up the lithe body, careful not to smash him into any furniture as he manoeuvres Jimin to his bed.
After a few minutes of struggle and suffering, Jungkook gently places him down on the soft mattress. He slowly starts to remove his hands, afraid any quick movements would wake Jimin up, which is an absurd thought seeing how he's sleeping like a log. It's only when he's turned around, about to gather his belongings and leave, that he feels a tug on his sleeve.
It turns out that tiny fingers are gripping tightly onto his sleeve. Those fingers belong to Jimin. Jungkook's heart swells.
6.
It’s been a month...or two...or three...well, Jungkook doesn’t really know, he’s lost count of how long it’s been since he was forcefully dumped into Jimin’s life. He’s gotten to missing out late-night parties and meaningless one night stands. Not that he's missing out on much, to be honest.
He stays silent beside Jimin, who seems to be rushing through an essay they got set as his latest assignment. When the younger glances over, he’s surprised to see the majority of what he’s writing is correct.
“What? Did I get it wrong again?” The elder glances at him with insecure eyes in a whisper, his chubby fingers gripping his pen tightly with nerves.
Jungkook merely ignores him and goes back to reading through Jimin's red essay. He's been subconsciously less harsh on the elder after the passing out incident, much more sympathetic and understanding now that he knows his hyung.
He knows the reason why he struggles with Biology is because of his passion for dance (and also his evil dance teacher who overworks him too much - Jungkook glares at her every time he sees her). Jungkook asked him about it that day when he woke up and even though the conversation wasn't long and didn't reveal much, he knew. They looked at each other and Jungkook had sent him a soft smile. Jimin knew what he was trying to say straight away.
7.
Jungkook glances at Jimin frequently, falling into a daze and breaking out of his trance continuously as he stares at the way his eyelashes flutter.
He can’t remember when he started becoming so soft on Jimin. When did he start caring so much about the dancer?
He doesn't know but he doesn't want to know what it feels like to not have Jimin in his life. He blushes at that thought.
"What's wrong, Kook?" The dancer stares into his eyes and he's so so so pretty that Jungkook suddenly feels like there's not enough oxygen in the world for him when the elder keeps taking his breath away. It's not fair.
8.
"Jungkookie! Hyung passed! I passed!"
Jungkook’s proud of Jimin. He doesn’t seem to express it very well, seeing as how Jimin has his lips puckered into a pout now. He’s sulking and Jungkook should probably give a more enthusiastic reaction to the excellent news but now all he can think about is kissing those lips.
All he seems to be capable of doing right now is sending the elder a slight smile. It's something small, but Jimin's still eyes light up and turn into the moon crescents the second he caught the smile.
Jungkook's sure he's never wanted to kiss and cuddle with someone as much as now.
9.
Laughter and smiles begin to fill their study sessions instead of sneers and scoffs, though Jungkook must say that for the past couple of months (maybe even longer, to be honest), he wasn’t even half-serious about the insults he threw Jimin’s way. Although his dumbass self decides to tease and mock him instead, thankfully his hyung just receives them all with eye-blinding grins and embarrassed giggles.
"Hyung, you're so tiny! Are you sure you're my hyung?"
"Yah! You're walking on thin ice." He points a finger to the younger in warning to intimidate him but the bright smile he's sporting betrays him.
"Jiminie, don't you know it's rude to point?" Jungkook pretends to sigh in disappointment but everyone can see the amused twinkle in his eyes.
10.
“Need help, hyung? I’m free tonight.” Jungkook lets those words fall out of his mouth with a face of nonchalance as if he didn’t just stop Jimin’s heart for a solid few seconds, as if he didn’t just take away his breath or cause him to become tongue-tied and red-faced. Because Jungkook never, never ever initiates spending time together.
“No, it’s okay, Kook. I’ve been wasting an awful lot of your time lately.”
Jungkook stays silent with his eyes on his shoes.
“Kook?” Jimin asks from beside him, nudging his arm when he doesn’t hear a reply. When he turns his head to look at the younger, he’s surprised to see a faint glow on his cheeks.
“I-I kinda like it when you waste my time…” His doe eyes widen, his panic very clearly displayed, before he squeaks and dashes off in the opposite direction from where they were previously heading.
He leaves Jimin in a dumbfounded state of mind with a garden of blooming flowers in his chest. As if he didn’t just rip off the chain on his heart in a matter of seconds after knocking on it for months. As if he didn’t just cast a spell of eternal spring in his world.
11.
Jimin’s confused. Jungkook’s holding his hand, placing them on the desk, on display for everyone walking past to see. He's resting his head on his arm on the exact same desk, beside their hands. Well, to be exact, Jungkook’s barely holding his hand. It would be more accurate to say that he’s just letting Jimin’s hand sit on his palm, his fingers brushing against the elder’s so gently and his touch so delicate that Jimin’s heart is racing uncontrollably. He can’t forget about the look in the younger’s eyes, too. He’s staring at Jimin’s eyes directly with an emotion that he’s not used to being at the receiving end of.
Jimin can’t seem to pull his eyes away from him.
12.
“We both know I don’t need these revision sessions anymore. I’ve got my final exam on Monday and then, hopefully, I’m out of this place!” Jimin squeals in happiness and rolls around giddily on his bed.
Jungkook's oddly just staring at him with both fondness and sadness. Jimin chuckles when he immediately gets it.
"And I also think you should know we're beyond using these lessons as an excuse to see each other." He sends a teasing smile to the younger.
Jungkook covers his ears in embarrassment and Jimin looks at him with such fondness and affection and love that he just heats up even more. "I-I didn't even say anything!"
The dancer quickly gets on his tiptoes to give the younger a sweet but short peck on his lips. When he pulls back, Jungkook's staring at him with wide, shocked doe eyes, the glow of his red cheeks making him thousand times more adorable.
"Don't worry, Kook, I'll stay right beside you."
(They're both blushing just seconds later when Jungkook feels too overwhelmed and malfunctions, pulling Jimin in for even sweeter kisses and hugs.)